I’m always trying to capture these little moments of stillness in the day and also in life.
The visual composition for this piece came from tying to visualize the feeling of stillness, if I close my eyes and think about it enough I can almost feel a butterfly land on me, but as soon as I open my eyes, it’s flown off.
“Present”
9x12 acrylic, letraset, and spraypaint on cradled panel, ready to hang
I have been thinking about my relationship with art making a lot lately, over the years I have leaned very far into the solitude of it, the isolation of it, the mountain of alone time I have to confront in order to make things.
It is a pendulum, it can feel like a curse, a burden, and at times extremely lonely. While in the next moment, it can become such a tender beauty, something so personal, and a joy I will always have the ability to tap into no matter my circumstance.
Though art has isolated me in seasons, art has also brought me in connection with every person I know, and it’s helped me knit such a vibrant colorful community of supportive, honest weirdos.
Sometimes I forget that I’m part of it.
Truly, it has given me everything, held me when I needed comfort the most and has helped me find the strength to continue searching for a future I’m hopeful for.
“The Reward”
12x16 acrylic on canvas mounted in a strip frame
ready to hang
230 zentries sold. Grand prize is a 24x24 custom original. Additional prizes are a 12x12 painting from 2025 titled “in around and part of” as well as stickers, patches, and zines. Every zentry gets a prize. You can buy as many Zentries as you want. You will know you won the 24x24 custom original if you receive a golden ticket in your envelope. The winner of the smaller painting will receive a neon yellow ticket. The first painting is the piece being given away, the rest are example paintings from custom original winners from past drawings. This original commission will be for abstract work that you can choose the subject matter for and point me in a direction for color palette if you desire.
these will all be sent out once they are all sold so people receive them all sort of at the same time. Might take a few months so hold tight. I will be updating everyone regularly on instagram.
I painted this because I think about joining a community clay studio almost everyday, I shared about painting it as a spell to get my hands dirty soon and to play with clay and a friend responded the next day that I could come over and use her wheel and kiln! My clay spell worked! At least for a day :)
11x14 acrylic and spraypaint on stretched canvas
The photos are a few examples of commissioned pet portraits from over the years, they are all of dogs but I would love to paint your cat, lizard, bird, hamster or any other non human entity you live with that brings you joy.
9×12 Acrylic paint on cradled birch panel original painting of your pet.
I will have you email me 5 high quality reference photos to choose from
To have more than one pet in the composition it will be an added 100$ each pet rendered, up to 3.
if you would like to commission a pet portrait larger than the sizes listed, send me an email at stay.awake435@gmail.com and we can talk details.
Watching what’s happening around me and in the world often feels like the people who are supposed to be doing something are also just watching things be done. like we are all just watching the horrors unfold and frozen. I pray we build the courage to act. again and again.
11X14 Mixed media original on cradled birch panel, ready to hang.
This plant was gifted to me as a tiny little start from a friend at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. It has since grown very large in my home and I propagated a cutting of it that has been thriving in a pickle jar at my studio.
Original 12x16 Acrylic paint, the net from a bag of clementines, tissue paper, and fiber paste on canvas. will be sent in a wooden frame ready to hang.
Sometimes I wish I could freeze time on good things and let the bad things pass and then press play on the good things.
Doesn’t work that way unfortunately, contrast enhances the experience.
12x24 mixed media original diptych on cradled panels ready to hang
When I was working on it it was the dead of summer and my studio was hot af, I was blastin KG and jumpin around sweating like a hog. The fire exists in the painting.
18x18 mixed media original on cradled birch panel ready to hang
Painted for Nonagon Affinity King Gizzard Artshow in Richmond,VA at Black Iris Gallery
So far in my life I have had 2 major corners, 2 moments when I accepted something and moved forward with action to integrate those things into my life with honesty. My first corner was coming out as gay. The second corner was accepting that I had a drinking problem. Both times once the information was accepted and integrated its weight and shame lost the bulk of its power, and my world felt exciting, fresh, and new again. I look forward to finding my future corners to round, they keep life exciting.
30x40 mixed media original on cradled birch panel
As I’ve gotten older, I’ve been able to look back at myself with more compassion, this painting is about taking care of the things that may have been building up so that the self you’re protecting can heal and grow and feel cared for.
30×48 Mixed media original on stretched canvas ready to hang
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